Blessings Begun

Phew! Is it only Wednesday! It's been very busy around here and the rest of the week is the same. I  had a lovely high tea on Monday.  I'll share some photos when I get my camera back....some silly lady left it amongst the cakes! They were distracting let me tell you.
I have begun the Blessings Quilt.  After careful consideration of my ability to get seams correctly aligned 000000. I decided I would make the large rings using the EPP method. Using the one template I feel that I have a better chance of getting them even. What is it about cutting into a new piece of fabric....ahhhh!
I have prepared 12 papers for the first ring...so big! The basting done and the stitching begun.

Loving the vintagey look already. 

Yesterday I finished my naughty Cockatoo named now the "Petunia Pilferer " My friend Trish kindly supplied the reference photo. ...thank you x The shadow on the left is me...sorry about that!

After my signature went on I began another piece...and another new beginning ....learning to enlarge your drawing through measurements. No photocopying or tracing here! It took me ages to get my head around it but as I said..there is a beginning. We have a drawing and the first layer of coloured pencil is down. I really want to do a good job on this one as it is special. 

I wish you all a joyful day. I am off to the bay for some stitching with my friends. 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Back to Your Regular Broadcast.

Good morning all. Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to you all and I  have truly felt like I  have been wrapped in a huge loving hug. Your kindness is overwhelming. To those who have not received a reply from me....it's the old "no-reply blogger" setting preventing me from doing so but know that I deeply appreciated each and everyone of your comments. Please know that your support and caring and sharing my quilt has been much more than I anticipated and is all the gift I need.

So I feel much happier knowing that you are all being vigilant on my behalf xxx
Now back to the business of stitching and happy things.
My Robyn Falloon pattern arrived and I can't wait to start....take a note of the design name....very apt.

This arriving certainly gave me the "hurry up" to finish the last Roma blocks...

Not that I haven't enjoyed every stitch because I really have. I wanted to include a fan of some kind because my Grandmother was a church minister's wife and Sunday services did not include air conditioning and a fan was always in her handbag. 

I have begun to lay all the blocks out and I have decided that there will be no final border but a binding the same pink as the inner border will finish it off.

Hopefully it will be all together very soon. Then perhaps a bit of a wait until cool weather quilting is possible. I'm really happy with how it has turned out.

Yesterday was a lovely treat....I went to the movies with 2 friends to see this.

Not at all what I thought I was expecting. ...I just loved it. Laughing and crying with good friends throughout it was wonderful. Lunch and a post mortem of the movie was the perfect finish to the day.

As it is threatening more rain here today I feel a bit more stitching coming on.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

On a Serious Note!

Good morning everyone. To say that  I  have  been a bit of a sad sack over recent weeks is probably an understatement so I  have decided to  share it with you just so I know that I have done all that I can.
Explanation : The highlight of my designing career has been to create and produce my very own book "A Holly Cottage Christmas "...

The heart of this book was the quilt I designed, stitched by hand and hand quilted.

To say is was created from my own heart pretty much sums it up.

Before I  went away on holidays my quilt and 6 books were sent away for a giveaway promotion. They arrived at their destination  (which I am not going to name) were signed for and promptly disappeared off the face of the earth. Whilst every effort has been made and is still being made, my quilt and books have not been found. I am  completely gutted and wonder what on earth all that effort was for. I am  putting it out there that it is missing so that I  know everyone knows it is not where it should be. If anyone knows anything about it please contact me.

Needless to say my designing and creative mojo has gone missing also.

Thanks for your attention. 

Namaste and Blesssings Michelle xxx 

Stitching Stuff

Happy Monday to you all. I am feeling all blissed out after a beautiful Yoga and Meditation class. Thank you  Helen x
I promised to get back to stitching this post..... I have been drooling over a Robyn Falloon pattern for a very looong time. I never usually have time to stitch other designers work and I let them slide by me with a sad face. BUT! I decided that has to change and if I  really love something I am going to  make time. So after sending for this pattern it occurred to me how much fabric was involved..groan, groan! Wasn't I suppose to be making a dent in my stash?? * lightbulb* I then remembered a huge stash of fabric that I  had collected ages ago to make a quilt I fancied but could not work out how to make it using needle turn applique so had banished it in disappointment.....oh joy when I discovered the yummies I had squirreled away...want to see?

Aren't they lovely and they will be perfect! I want an olde world but not drab lot of fabrics. I will show you the pattern when it arrives. I then must leave them alone until I  get  closer to the end of Roma's Quilt. I know that I will fail and have to have a little turn of it!

I  have finished my Jacobean type, species unknown birdie block.

Last night I nearly completed another birdie block who happens to love strawberries. Tiredness defeated me....so he needs his legs and a little more embroidery. 

Still have about 6 more blocks to ponder on.

Honestly sometimes I just think I must live in a hollow log or it takes me a while to notice new things that come into view. Recently I discovered a  new (to me) magazine at the library which I just loved but I quickly read all they had and was impatient not seeing others I hadn't. I was very excited to see the other day that my local news agency is now carrying it. You will all probably tell me it's been around for ages but folks I am just loving....

Some of the quilts featured in Quiltmania are just delicious...here was I vowing no more mags for me...ah well! I  say admire beauty and take inspiration where you find it.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Down By the Bay

Today I spent a couple of hours at the historic Old Schoolhouse Gallery at Cleveland.

Loved the sculpture at the front....

It has little secret recesses with treasures inside...

As I mentioned in previous posts I, along with my other classmates at art were asked to submit 2 pieces for the annual Student Exhibition at the gallery. It felt very strange but exciting to see my two drawings hung....

I felt very blessed that some of my dear friends journeyed down to take a peek....thank you girls! It meant so much. It was nice to explain how the drawings are created.
Myself and others enjoyed watching my teacher Sandra Temple demonstrating painting leaf litter on canvas...4 at once!

and my fellow classmate Diane Smith working on a gorgeous little furry person scratchboard piece.

The gallery is a really beautiful space. I love seeing our history preserved and used in such a way. The art and gallery seem a perfect match. At the moment they are raising funds to move the historical Station Master's Cottage to the site which would be amazing.

It is a beautiful cottage.....all donations will be very gratefully received I can assure you.
The exhibition is on for another 2 weekends....I actually made some little purchases too. So lovely for the gift box. There is something special about buying a handmade piece.
Our refreshments attracted a little visitor who thought a crumb or two may  fall his way.

On that note I shall say farewell......stitching next post I promise!
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

FNWF

Last night being the beginning of November meant it was time for...

I settled down to stitch after a cool salad for dinner as it was quite warm here last night. Thankfully a late storm cooled it a little. I allowed myself to be scared with the thriller "Before I Go to Sleep" starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth whilst I stitched. I had a couple of little bit of finishing to do on 2 Dresden blocks which I did..

I then finished off my circle blocks as well.

As they didn't take long I decided to mark out the remaining applique blocks. 

I did get a little bit stitched on one of these while finishing my evening with the tail end of Skyfall.....certainly can't switch Daniel Craig off lol!

I was pleased with my efforts and enjoyed my evening. I hope you did too.

Thanks to our "Swanning about on the high seas hostess" the lovely Cheryll from Gone Stitchin'.

I am now off to get some sewing supplies....don't you hate it when you think you have something only to discover. ..nope not enough! Tomorrow I will be here.

Enjoy your weekend.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xx

Ouch & Gratitude

I have awoken today with a very achy head...something that thankfully doesn't happen too often anymore after suffering with them for many years...so I  thought I would take it easy and pop in and visit you.
The "reverse sewing faerie" came to visit me and my emerging circle blocks! Arrggh! That will teach me for being cocky.

Turns out my circles were a smidge too big. It is not surprising as I only had this picture in my book to go by. So lots of guessing has been the case.

After a few more attempts at the right size I finally settled on one. I have ended up with a teeny gap between them and perhaps the star is not as apparent  but I think I can live with it. Don't know if I can unsew again!

I am glad that I have persevered because I really liked this block.

At the commencement of the year I was inspired to begin and keep a "Gratitude " jar in which you write down happy blessings, occassions, kindnesses and things that made you smile throughout the year...mine sits on my Inspiration table.

Something that I don't often share with people other than my nearest and dearest is that I have a somewhat depressive and overly sensitive nature and I have to often work very hard to overcome it and remain friends with myself and see the up side of things.....surprised?  A lot of people I think are like me.

 So this jar has been a great reminder of joy and happiness even through this rough year we have had. All those positive little scraps of paper.

My jar although not large...is chokkers with joyful reminders!

I don't share this to illicit any kind of sympathy(I am a very blessed woman) I share it because it was such a simple thing that could help one or three of you out there and has really made me take notice and acknowledge Joy! I plan in the New year holidays to go through my jar and read the often little scribbled notes and look back over the year. Also begin a new jar.

Maybe you might like to  think about one for the upcoming year too.
Thanks for keeping me and my achy head company. 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx